We’ve all heard about them, we’ve probably bought a few of them and some live up to expectations – while others fail miserably. So we’ve decided to test them out and take you through some of the most raved about high-end beauty products to tell you whether they are actually worth the hype AND your hard-earned money!
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Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF10
Everyone meet my holy grail, be-lost-without-it foundation – Estee Lauder’s Double Wear. This foundation is so versatile. It can be sheered out with a damp sponge for an everyday appropriate medium-coverage look, or densely applied with fingers or a brush for a full-coverage look that makes your skin look flawless! Also, if oil control is an issue for you, the semi-matte finish and promise of 15-hour wear time is absolutely ideal. With a large selection of shades divided into warm, neutral and cool undertones everyone is bound to find their perfect match. So, what are you waiting for?
$50, available from Myer and David Jones
Benefit They’re Real mascara
Benefit claims that their They’re Real mascara is “beyond belief” and will have friends asking whether you’ve just put on a fresh pair of false lashes. This product has everything I look for in a mascara. Lengthens short lashes? Check. Volumises sparse lashes? Check. Holds a curl all day even on the most stubborn, straight lashes? Massive check. The semi-waterproof and jet black formula is near perfect, and the unique brush with bristles on top of the wand makes coating the inner, outer and bottom lashes incredibly easy.
$38, available from Myer
Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner
After the positive experience with Benefit’s They’re Real mascara, the next logical step was to try out their recently released They’re Real Push-Up Liner, right? Wrong. This gel liner and built-in silicon brush was a major flop – the formula was thick, clumpy and it was difficult to control the amount of product dispensed from the flimsy brush. It makes that sharp winged eyeliner you’re going for look more like bumpy road. While I appreciate Benefit’s ingenuity with this product as well as the very black formula, you’ll get a much better result with traditional gel eyeliner and a brush.
$35, available from Myer
Nars Laguna Bronzer
Nars’ bronzing powder in Laguna is one of the most talked about bronzers on the market, and for good reason. The silky textured, cool-toned brown is perfect for contouring and sculpting the face whilst the golden sheen gives you a beautiful, sun-kissed healthy look without the glitter. It’s definitely a splurge makeup product, but it’s definitely worth the hefty price tag if you’re looking for that year-round glow!
$49, available from Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca Maxima
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
I really wish I didn’t absolutely adore Hourglass’ Veil Mineral Primer with SPF 15! At $69 for a 30ml bottle, this gamechanger is a naughty little luxury but is utterly worth the positive reviews. The satin, oil-free formula creates the perfect canvas for your makeup and delays the shine that us ladies with oily skin inevitably develop, for an impressively long time. This primer is an absolutely stand-out and if you’re looking to treat yourself (and your skin), check out this miracle in a bottle.
$25 for 10mls; $69 for 30mls, available at Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca Maxima
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
When I first started wearing eyeshadow and found my eyelids just love to crease and ruin my eye makeup, I decided to give Shadow Insurance a crack. Honestly, I wished I had saved my money. This product has a terribly runny and oily texture that doesn’t enhance the vibrancy of your eyeshadow at all. But importantly, this is just not the best primer to keep your eyeshadows staying crease-free throughout the day. With so many other amazing eyelid primers on the market (see: Nars’ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base or MAC’s Paint Pots), I would recommend you give this over-hyped disappointment a pass.
$26, available from Mecca Maxima and Kit Cosmetics
Images via mecca.com.au and myer.com.au
